we beheld Him, and esteemed Him not" (Isa. liii. 2). But the more I see Thee so disfigured, O my Lord, the more beautiful and lovely dost Thou appear to me. And what are these disfigurements that I behold but signs of the tenderness of that love which Thou dost bear towards me? I love Thee, my Jesus, thus wounded and torn to pieces for me; would that I too could see myself torn to pieces for Thee, like so many martyrs whose portion this has been! But if I cannot offer Thee wounds and blood, I offer Thee at least all the pains which it will be my lot to suffer. I offer Thee my heart; with this I desire to love Thee more tenderly even than I am really able. And who is there that my soul should love more tenderly than a God, Who has endured scourging and been drained of His blood for me? I love Thee, O God of love! I love Thee, O Infinite Goodness! I love Thee, O my Love, my All! I love Thee, and I will never cease to say, both in this life and in the other, I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee. Amen.
To Jesus crowned with Thorns.
Our sins, our evil thoughts, were the wicked thorns which pierced the head of Jesus Christ.
sinful thoughts of men! it was you that
pierced the head of the Redeemer. Yes, my
Jesus, by our criminal consent to sin we have
formed Thy crown of thorns. I now detest this
compliance with sin, and abhor it more than death
or any other evil. To you, O thorns, consecrated
with the blood of the Son of God, I again turn with
an humble heart; ah, pierce this soul of mine, make
it always sorrowful for having offended so good a
God. O my afflicted Saviour! O King of the world!
to what do I see Thee reduced? I behold Thee a
